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With the green beauty + minimalist makeup look all the rage, now is the PERFECT time to make this mica-tinted lip balm recipe to sell online.
Tinted lip balm is a moisturizing, protecting salve (just like untinted lip balm) that leaves a sheer color on the lips when applied.
To be 100% clear before you dive into the tutorials below, lip tint is meant to be reapplied throughout the day and does not stick to lips like lipstick or lip stain does. Because it is lip balm…with tint!
In this article, you’ll learn how to make 6 shades of organic tinted lip balm (with mica) that sell incredibly well via e-commerce.
I can argue the importance of using natural cosmetics all day long, and lip tint is no exception.
Cosmetic formulators love to put flavors and scents into their lip products and they’re very popular, especially amongst a younger market (I still distinctly remember the ‘Strawberry Cheesecake’ lip balm from my youth) – NOT great for the health and wellness of their customers.
Adding flavors and artificial scents makes the individual lick their lips more (which dries lips out) and can also cause allergies and sensitivities.
Making your own tinted lip balm recipe ensures that you are using organic ingredients you trust, scenting only with organic essential oils, and keeping away from lip-drying additives that are completely unnecessary.
In handmade cosmetics, colors can be easily created with mineral pigments (micas and oxides) and ground herbs, roots, and seeds.
Micas are naturally occurring minerals that are purified and ground into very fine powder. They are popular in cosmetics and other handmade products (such as soap and candles) since they add a natural shimmery finish.
Cosmetic micas that contain ONLY mica minerals and iron/titanium oxide are considered natural – there are some available on the market that are colored with FD&C colorants, such as blue and green (which we do not promote on our site).
Ground herbs and roots create a vast array of natural colors. While they can be added to handmade soap recipes directly, they are most effectively used in lip colors through infusion.
Both micas and ground plant materials must be labeled as ‘cosmetic grade’ to be safely used in skin care and cosmetic recipes.
DIY tinted lip balm with mica is shimmery, whereas infused root lip tints have more of a berry-kissed look (without shimmer).
The choice depends on your target market – some customers do not consider mica to be natural, whereas others are comfortable using micas as long as they are not artificially colored with lakes and dyes.
This post focuses directly on creating lip tints made with naturally colored mica powders.
If you want to make a lip tint without any mica at all, see our alkanet root lip tint recipe.
According to the FDA Cosmetics Laws & Regulations, tinted lip balm is considered a cosmetic. Under the FD&C Act, cosmetics do not require approval to be sold.
That being said, if you use certain terminology in your product name, on your label, or in your online sales page description that implies your lip tint can heal, cure, or be a treatment, you’ll be putting your products in the ‘drug’ category – which DOES require approval before selling.
Once you hit on a few shades that you love and can market in a way that keeps them in the ‘cosmetic’ category, you absolutely SHOULD sell your tinted lip balm – online, in person, in singles, in bulk…any way you can think of.
Since the no-makeup-makeup look is trending big time, it is such an easy thing to promote on social media to get some eyes on your natural skin care line.
There are exponential ways to combine lip colors into gift sets (either together or with other products that you make).
Here are a few of my top-selling lip tint sets to get your ideas rolling:
The tinted lip balm base doesn’t cost that much at all – when calculated out individually, the balm ingredients are only nine cents a tube.
Micas are what drive up the cost of this product, as each jar (if you’re buying a large quantity) is about fifteen dollars.
There are eleven colors used to make the six shades in this tutorial, and of course you can choose to make your own color combinations and start with smaller mica samplers.
Mica has an infinite shelf life and they have paid for themselves tenfold in my own shop; if you market yourself well, there’s no reason to expect any different for your own line.
The other costs come down to your own business decisions:
• The type of lip balm packaging that would attract your customers to buy
• Your labeling choices
• The unboxing experience you choose to provide
| saucepan | double boiler |
| kitchen scale | glass stirring rods |
| transfer pipettes | glass ramekins |
| organic beeswax | organic shea butter |
| organic jojoba oil | organic almond oil |
| organic castor oil | cosmetic-grade micas (see below) |
| organic lavender essential oil |
1. Fill saucepan with a couple of inches of tap water. Put your double boiler on top of the sauce pan, making sure a portion of the bottom is submerged to heat properly.
2. Measure out ingredients in ramekins on the scale:
3. Put the pan on your stove or hot plate on low to medium heat (don’t go too hot or it will warp and melt your plastic lip balm containers).
4. Add the designated amount of mica (see six different color blend options further down in this post) – mix together until all clumps are gone and the color is consistent throughout the heated liquid.
Add the following and mix again with a glass stir rod :
5. Transfer liquid balm into heat-safe containers based on your business branding.
One option is to use plastic pipettes and fill individually (these are easy to tip over, use a steady hand!).
Another option is to use a filling tray if you have standard-size tubes:
Continue stirring the liquid balm as you transfer – the mica quickly settles to the bottom of the double boiler and you want it to stay evenly dispersed for consistent application.
6. If your lip tint develops a ‘sink hole’ during the hardening process, use a craft heat gun to round the tops out for a more aesthetically pleasing end product.
7. Once your tinted lip balm has hardened, you can safely add the caps and lids to your balm container.
Label and safety seal according to your skin care business branding.
Mica is mixed straight into the heated lip balm base while still on the stove – it works best if the balm is stirred after each new color is added to reduce the chance of the mica clumping up.
You’ll want to stir pretty consistently as you transfer the liquid balm into the containers, as the mica settles back to the bottom of the double boiler quickly.
The six shades of mica tinted lip balm below are just suggestions – I look forward to seeing new combinations you create for your own line!
Though not technically a ‘tint’ this colorless lip gloss provides a ton of shimmer from two micas that can be worn alone or layered with other colors.
To achieve this ‘tint’, add:
A very sheer, pastel pink shimmer made with a combination of four cosmetic-grade micas.
To achieve this ‘tint’, add:
A slightly darker pink shade made with a combination of four cosmetic-grade micas.
To achieve this ‘tint’, add:
A nude to tan shade made with a combination of five cosmetic-grade micas.
To achieve this ‘tint’, add:
A darker neutral shade made with a combination of four cosmetic-grade micas.
To achieve this ‘tint’, add:
Our darkest tinted lip balm is made with a combination of four cosmetic-grade micas.
To achieve this ‘tint’, add:
If you already have your skin care business up and running, you know from experience that this recipe is only the beginning of getting this lip tint ready to sell.
If you are just now starting your business journey, you’ll need to complete some basic business foundation work before moving on:
After you have those details nailed down, you can move on to the fun details!
Everything you need in the Handmade Lip Balm Packaging Guide, covering it all from lip balm containers, to labels, to unboxing details.
That’s doing it the hard way!
With the Skincare Business Branding Guide, you get step-by-step guidance to help you create the BEST branding for YOUR target market!
Christine Glaser, C.A.
Christine is a certified aromatherapist, essential oil specialist, and organic skin care formulator. She loves empowering others with tools to make healthy changes and understand where natural options can be woven into the fabric of everyday routines.
